Sickness and Absence

Absence Notifications

If you are unable to attend work due to illness or another unexpected reason, you must inform your Line Manager at least an hour before your scheduled start time. It is preferred that you contact your manager directly by phone. Messages via text, social media, or email, or left on an answering machine, are not acceptable.

Short-Term Absences (1-7 Days)

For absences lasting up to seven days, you are required to complete a self-certification form upon your return to work.

Long-Term Absences (8 Days or More)

If you are absent for more than seven days, you must provide a doctor's certificate (Fit Note) by the eighth day of your absence. Additional certificates may be required for ongoing absences. When you return to work after an absence of more than two weeks, you will have a 'back to work' interview with your Line Manager.

Sick Pay Provisions

• During Probation: Only Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be provided. In special cases, your manager may use discretion.
• After Probation: You are eligible for normal pay for up to 4 weeks of absence per year, provided you supply a Fit Note for absences longer than seven days.
• Extended Absence: If your absence extends beyond 4 weeks, your pay will be reduced to 50% for up to 8 additional weeks. After this period, only SSP will be available, provided you continue to provide medical certification.

Absence Reviews

An absence review may be triggered if:

• You have more than 3-4 separate absences within a 12-month period.
• You have been absent for more than 10 working days in a rolling 12-month period.

During an absence review meeting, we will discuss your well-being, the reasons for your absences, any potential patterns, and how we can support you in improving attendance. We will also consider whether flexible working arrangements or adjustments to your role could help.

External Work During Sick Leave

If you are on sick leave, you must obtain permission from your Line Manager to engage in any outside work, including voluntary work. Failing to do so may affect your sick pay and could lead to disciplinary action.

Compassionate and Emergency Leave

Handcrafted may offer leave for personal reasons, including:

• Bereavement: Up to 5 days of paid leave for the death of a close relative.
• Domestic Emergencies: Time off to handle emergencies at home, assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Unavoidable Childcare Emergencies: Up to 2 days of paid leave, with any additional time treated as unpaid or taken from annual leave.

For further details, please refer to the full Absence Management Policy.